Lamp construction



Nov. 29, 1938.

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INVENTOR.

CHARLES W.ANKLAM MW/WJ ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938. c. w. ANKLAM LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uss;

INVENTOR. CHARLES W.ANKLAM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAMP CONSTRUCTION Application December 21, 1936, Serial No. 117,051

8 Claims.

The invention relates to vehicle lamps of that type known as doorless and in which the lens forms the closure for the housing and is seated thereon. Among the objects of the invention are: to simplify the construction; to facilitate the assembly of the parts thereof; and to provide for the resilient seating of the lens and reflector so as to permit the easy removal and replacement of the same when desired. With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth,

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the lamp housing with the lens and reflector removed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the reflector;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the reflector and lens in position and one of the supporting brackets therefor;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the. line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of a portion of the reflector showing the manner of attaching the resilient guide thereto;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 1 through another one of the supporting brackets;

Figures '7 and 8 are perspective views of the supporting brackets detached; V

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the manner of assembling the supporting brackets with the housing and then securing the same in position;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing a slightly modified construction.

With the modern tendency to streamline all parts of a motor vehicle, it has been found'desirable in lamp constructions to dispense with the hinged door and to so mount the lens in the lamp housing as not to interrupt the streamline contour thereof. This necessitates introducing the lens through the front opening in the housing and at the same time to provide a marginal seat therefor. It also requires the provision of a resilient support for the reflector within the housing which will press the same in marginal sealing contact with the lens and will'hold the latter against its seat on the housing. This has heretofore been accomplished by the placing of an annular flange within the lamp housing in rear of its open end which forms a support and positioning means for the reflector as well as a seat for the springs or other resilient means. With the present invention I have dispensed with the annular flange and the welded or soldered lugs and have provided in place thereof a plurality of resilient brackets detachably engaging the casing in rear of it p n end I v u e d v e an exceedingly simple construction of bracket and means for securing the same to the housingas hereinafter described.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, A is a housing of streamline form and including an inwardly curving portion A at its forward end; B is the lens, the front face of which forms a continuation of the streamlined housing. This lens is of a construction forming no part of the present invention, provided with flanges B on diametrically opposite sides thereof for seating against the inner marginal portion of the housing, said flanges being cut away in a transverse plane to permit of introducing the lens through the opening. C is the reflector of a diameter slightly less than the opening in the housing and which is provided with a marginal channel portion C for receiving a gasket D which seals the joint between the same and the lens. 7

To support the reflector within the housing I have provided a plurality of brackets E preferably sheet metal vstampings and having suflicient resiliency to permit of slight deflection without permanent distortion. Each of these brackets has a portion E which is fashioned to fit the inner curved surface of the housing and a radially extending portion E A member E struck inward'and forward from the center of the portions E and E forms a stop for limiting the inward movement of the reflector and also a brace for stiffening the bracket. The bracket is further stiffened by a diagonal brace portion E which is return-bent from the inner end of the portion E and the outer end of which contacts with the housing A. To secure the bracket in position the forward end of the portion E is bent to form a hook for engaging the portion A of the housing and for resisting rearward thrust. Preferably, this construction is as shown in Figure 3, in which the portion E has a substantially right angle outward bend E therein, and a tongue portion E extending forward from the outer end of the portion E substantially parallel to the portion E. This tongue portion is adapted to be inserted through a slot F in the portion A of the housing so that when the portion E is brought in contact with the inner face of the housing, the hook E together with the tongue E will hold the bracket from rearward movement. To retain the parts in this position, the tongue E is held down against the outer face of the housing wall A, preferably by an ornamental band G Which extends around the marginal edge of the housing and is return-bent in cross section to engage the inner face thereof. This marginal band may be placed in position as indicated in Figure 9, by first forming it withthe return-bent portion G bent inward so that it may be inserted through the opening in the housing A, and then by expanding and outwardly deflecting this portion G to press the same into contact with the inner face of the wall.

The brackets are distributed about the housing, there being preferably three of these brackets, one of these, H, being slightly modified in construction as shown in Figure 8. This bracket has a curved portion H similar to the portion E of the bracket E, and a hook portion H and tongue portion H similar to the portions E and E At its rear end the bracket H has a returnbent portion H terminating in a radially out wardly extending portion H which forms a re silient seat in the same plane as the portion E of the bracket E. The bracket H is preferably placed at the bottom of the lamp housing, while the brackets E are on opposite sides of the top portion of the housing, together forming a threepoint support for the reflector.

The reflector C has a plurality of resilient members I, each of which has a rearwardly projecting finger portion I adapted to pass through an aperture E in the portion E of the bracket E. These members are preferably formed of a strip of resilient metal which has a return-bent portion forming the finger I and laterally and oppositely return-bent portions I and I having their ends secured to the marginal portion C of the reflector. These laterally return-bent portions form in effect a double elliptical spring which, when the finger member I is in engagement with the bracket E, will resiliently press the reflector forward against the lens B. For engaging the bracket H there is a nonresilient post member J secured to the marginal portion C and having at its rear end a projecting tongue J for engaging a slot H in the portion H and with shoulders J on opposite sides of said tongue. However, as the return-bent portion H and portion H of the bracket H are resiliently yieldable, these together with the post J will press this side of the reflector also against the lens.

With the construction as described, to engage the reflector and lens with the housing A thefinger portions I of the members I are first inserted in the apertures E of the brackets E and'the tongue portion J into the slot H of the bracket H. The reflector may then be pressed inward until the portions I and I contact with the portions E and the shoulders J with the portion H To retain the reflector in thisposition prior to the engagement of the lens therewith the fingers I at the point of juncture with the portions I and I? are fashioned with notches I to form a snap engagement with the portion E To place the lens in position the side thereof registering with the post J is pressed against the reflector and pressed inward so as to engage the flange B thereof beneath the strip G, and by then further pressing inward and downward the upper flange B will also pass within the opening to seat upon the strip G. The resilience of the bracket members E and H will press the reflector with the gasket D against the lens to seal the joint and will also press the lens against the strip G. The lens may then be locked in this position by a screw K which is insertable through an aperture in the housing in alignment with the post J and engages a threaded bearing K in said aperture. The inner end of this screw has an unthreaded portion K passing through an aperture H." in

the bracket H and a registering aperture J in the post J, so that the latter is locked in position. This will prevent any inward movement of the lens or reflector and will therefore retain these parts in proper relation to the housing A.

The construction as described, is one in which the elements can be easily and quickly assembled in the following order:

The bracket members E and H are first placed in position by inserting the tongues E and H thereof through the slots F in the housing A. The strip G having its return-bent portion G opened as indicated in Figure 9, is then placed in engagement with the marginal portion of the housing. This will press the tongues E and H against the outer face of the housing, thereby moving the portion H against the inner face of said housing- The return-bent portion G is then expanded, preferably by the use of an expanding chuck, .to press it in firm contact with the inner face of the housing and to thereby lock the brackets E and H in position. This will complete the assembly of the permanently attached parts. The reflector C and lens B may then be successively placed in position in the manner previously described.

In Figure 10, I have shown a slightly modified construction in which the bracket E is provided with a return-bent end portion E which embraces the end of the portion A. This portion E is also provided with a struck-out portion E adapted to engage an aperture F in the member A and the retaining band G is then applied to hold the parts in this position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a lamp, the combination with a lens and a housing having a forwardly tapering portion open at its forward end for the insertion of said lens and having a marginal portion surrounding said opening against which said lens is seated, of means for holding said lens to its seat including a plurality of radially inwardly extending spaced brackets having portions bearing against the inner face of the forwardly tapering portion of said housing and having a hooked engagement with the marginal portion thereof, and a finishing band surrounding the marginal portion of said housing retaining and concealing the hooked engagement of said brackets.

2. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, of a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said lens and having an annular portion tapering toward said forward end against which said lens is seated, of means for holding said lens to its seat including a plurality of radially inwardly extending spaced brackets having portions fitting the tapering portion of said housing and bearing thereagainst, and a hook portion engaging the margin of said tapering portion, and a finishing band surrounding said marginal portion inside and outside thereof and retaining the hooked engagement of said brackets.

3. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, of a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said lens and having an annular portion tapering toward said forward end against which said lens is seated, of means for holding said lens to its seat including a plurality of spaced brackets, each bracket having a portion for fitting said tapering portion of the housing and bearing thereagainst, a portion having a hooked engagement with the margin of said tapering portion, a radially inwardly extending portion and a return-bent portion for contacting with said housing and bracing said radially inwardly extending portion, and a finishing band engaging the margin of said housing and retaining the hooked engagement of said brackets.

4. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, of a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said lens and having an annular portion tapering toward said forward end against which said lens is seated, of means for holding said lens to its seat including a plurality of radially inwardly extending spaced brackets, each bracket having a portion fitting and. bearing against said tapering portion of the housing, and a portion entering an aperture in the margin of said tapering portion to form a hooked engagement therewith, and a finishing band of returnbent cross section engaging the margin of said tapering portion inside and outside thereof to retain the hooked engagement of said brackets and to form a lens seat.

5. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, a reflector and a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said reflector and lens and provided with a marginal portion forming a seat for said lens, of means for positioning and holding said reflector and lens including a plurality of spaced brackets projecting radially inward from said housing and having a hooked engagement with the marginal portion thereof, and members extending rearward from said reflector having finger portions engaging apertures in said brackets, and laterally extending resilient portions for bearing against said brackets and for holding said reflector against said lens and the lens against said marginal seat.

6. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, a reflector and a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said reflector and lens and provided with a marginal portion forming a seat for said lens, of means for positioning and holding said reflector and lens and including a plurality of spaced brackets projecting radiallyinward from said housing, members projecting rearward from said reflector for engaging said brackets and resiliently pressing said reflector against said lens and the lens against said marginal seat, and means for locking said reflector in seated position comprising a pin insertable through an aperture in said housing and engaging one of the rearwardly extending members on said reflector.

'7. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, of a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said lens and having an annular portion tapering toward said forward end against which said lens is seated, of means for holding said lens to its seat including a plurality of spaced brackets, each bracket having at its forward end a hooked engagement with the marginal portion of said housing, a portion extending rearward from said hooked portion fitting said tapering portion of the housing and bearing thereagainst, and a portion extending radially inward from said rearwardly extending portion and members intermediate said brackets and lens.

8. In a lamp, the combination with a lens, of a housing open at its forward end for the insertion of said lens and having an annular portion tapering toward said forward end against which said lens is seated, of means for holding said lens to its seat including a plurality of spaced brackets, each bracket having at its forward end a hooked engagement with said marginal portion, a portion extending rearward from said hooked portion, a portion extending radially inward from said rearwardly extending portion, and a return-bent portion for contacting with said housing and bracing said radially inwardly extending portion and members intermediate said brackets and lens.

CHARLES W. ANKLAM. 

